Current Board Members
Jimmy Harris, Commissioner
Arkansas Insurance Department
Permanent Member or their designee
Bill Booker
2nd District – Professional Member
Term Expires: July 1, 2026
Keith Medders
4th District – Professional Member
Term Expires: July 1, 2028
Billy Curl
1st District – Professional Member
Term Expires: July 1, 2028
Josephine Perry
1st District – Senior Consumer Member Appointed at large
Term Expires: July 1, 2025
Rausch Hodges
1st District – Professional Member
Term Expires: July 1, 2027
Bruce Smithson
3rd District – Professional Member
Term Expires: July 1, 2028
Keith Hollowell
2nd District – Consumer Member
Appointed at large
Term Expires: July 1, 2026
Steve Whitwell
2nd District – Professional Member
Term Expires: July 1, 2027
Anyone interested in applying for a professional or consumer position may do so by visiting the Governor’s website.
Ark Code Ann. § 23-61-1102 – Creation Members
(a) There is created within the State Insurance Department the State Board of Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Cemeteries, and Burial Services.
(b) The members of the board shall be:
(1) Residents of this state;
(2) At least twenty-one (21) years of age; and
(3) Of good moral character.
(c) The board shall be composed of nine (9) members as follows:
(1)
(A) The Insurance Commissioner or his or her designated deputy.
(B) The commissioner or his or her designated deputy shall be a voting member of the board; and
(2)
(A) Eight (8) members appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate who shall serve terms of five (5) years.
(B) Six (6) of the board members under subdivision (c)(2)(A) of this section shall include:
(i)
(a) Two (2) licensed embalmers or funeral directors, each of whom has had at least five (5) consecutive years of experience as an embalmer or funeral directors in this state immediately preceding his or her appointment to the board.
(b) The Governor shall consult licensed embalmers and funeral directors before making an appointment under subdivision (c)(2)(B)(i)(a) of this section.
(c) The Arkansas Funeral Directors Association, Incorporated, or its successor shall submit to the Governor a list containing the names of at least four (4) professionals under subdivision (c)(2)(B)(i)(a) of this section;
(ii) Two (2) owners or operators of a licensed perpetual care cemetery in this state; and
(iii) Two (2) professionals engaged in the operation of a burial association for at least five (5) consecutive years preceding his or her appointment to the board.
(C) (i) The remaining two (2) members of the board shall be:
(a) One (1) person from this state, appointed at large, to represent the consumer community; and
(b) One (1) person from this state who is at least sixty (60) years of age, appointed at large, to represent the elderly community.
(ii) The members of the board under subdivision (c)(2)(C)(i) of this section shall not be actively engaged in or retired from the profession of embalming or funeral directing, the business of operating a burial association, or any other profession or occupation that is regulated by the board.
(iii) The members of the board under subdivision (c)(2)(C)(i) shall be full voting members of the board.